I'm troubleshooting a coworker's 2011 5'3L for hard starting and can't find answers on the web so I signed up on a couple GM forums (GMC Sierra Forums and Silverado Sierra GMC Truck Forums) to ask the question but the administrators seem to be asleep, it's been three days now, I'm a member of one but they won't post my thread without an administrator looking at it and the other I'm still waiting for my confirmation email...

Thanks in advance.

 

There have to be more than a few Corvette or Camaro forums out there? I recall one from maybe 10 years ago, believe it incorporated the Camaro and Firebird models.

 

i use Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums - Powered by vBulletin
same company as FTE, and the people there are very helpful when i need answers to chevy questions.

 

What I use as a rule are wether or not the users and mods at a forum are stupid.

By that I mean do they tolerate immature language? Do they pander too much to stupid stuff like big music systems, to the detriment of real tech info? Do they seem skimpy on a real understanding of engines and driveline systems?

What about old cars and trucks? Are they even aware of them?

These are the yardsticks that I measure all forums with, and sadly - many forums online to this day DO NOT measure up to what FTE has to offer.

If you find one for GM products, please shout out and let me know.

I have not found one yet that isn't full of loudmouthed dirty talking people.


~Wolfie

 

I spend a fair amount of time over at 67-72chevytrucks.com. However, I stick to the sections of the forum related to the 60-66's, so I couldn't tell you what the sections dedicated to the newer trucks are like. From what I've seen, it's a great site.

 

I tell ya what - using knowlege of engines as an indicator, I found this one - it looks pretty good!

LS1Truck.com

They don't seem to have a very wide list of forums, but on a quick check it looked to me like they really knew what they were talking about.

 

Is this a flex fuel vehicle and if so is E85 ever used?

 

Yes it's flex fuel and he never intended to use E85 but he may have on his trips to Mexico. I actually setup an appointment for him with a shop that specializes in vehicle programming, the guy I talked to there has been in the programming business for thirty years now and he's sure it went to E85 mode and won't switch back. He has seen it before with these trucks and has disabled the Flex Fuel feature. He says if the truck is filled with E85 in the future it'll just run a little poorly until it is out of the system same as none flex fuel vehicles.

What's your opinion Phinxter?

 

I have had a couple Escalades in the shop that were flex fuel, the first one had me stumped for a few days, when really cold it would start then run rough at first or stall completely, after warming up a minute it was fine. There is a TSB sort of thing to check the fuel composition measured by the sensor, and then an actual of the fuel sample. It was saying it had 64% alcohol, when it really had 10%. The fix is to reprogram the ECM(engine control module) and clear the alcohol composition and the fuel trims., then drive it at hwy speeds for 3 miles with the EVAP purge valve closed. I had another one come in 2 days later that the customer couldn't start for days and eventually it did. It was stuck at 67%. This one had same problem and fix. The bulletin is PIP4792D if you take it to a dealer. this might still be covered under a powertrain warranty or emissions warranty,Good luck

 

And we were all looking for a GM forum for that...

Well SHAME! SHAME! SHAME!

 

Thanks Phinxter, I'm back in the shop on the second, I'll see how he made out.

If you have brains you buy a Ford and repair GMs eh Greywolf

 

I dunno about that I was always told the reason guys are Ford mechanics is for job security.

 

Isn't there a saying out there if it has **** or wheels it'll give you trouble?